While the NHL met with union leadership in New York, the NHLPA formally announced it has filed paperwork with the Quebec Labor Relations Board to declare the pending lockout illegal in that Canadian province.

An emergency hearing on the issue is scheduled for 10:30 ET Friday in Montreal, a little less than 36 hours before the owners say they'll officially lock out players in the absence of a new collective bargaining agreement. The sides remain far apart on at least one key issue—how to divide the league's hockey-related revenue—though the NHLPA was expected to present at least some amended ideas Wednesday.

If the labor board rules in the NHLPA's favor, it would mean the Montreal Canadiens would have to pay their players and allow them to train in team facilities.

"I think the importance of this is to show that we want to play—we want to keep playing until we reach a deal," Canadiens defenseman Josh Gorges said on a conference call Monday. "There's no law that says we can't keep playing and keep preparing ourselves to play while we negotiate on a new CBA. Even though it's only three teams that may be involved in this, it may put pressure on other teams to say, 'You know what, these guys are getting ready, they're practicing, they're getting themselves ready to play, and maybe we should have our players doing the same sort of thing.' "

Plans to pursue similar action in Alberta have been put on hold, at least temporarily.

The NHL board of governors will convene Thursday with commissioner Gary Bettman, while the union holds a second day of discussions with as many as 250 players.

The hastily scheduled negotiating session for Wednesday came hours after NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said owners and players were both to blame for their failure to reach a new collective bargaining agreement before the current deal expires at midnight Saturday.